Garden tractor



Jan. 15, 1952 HEILMAN 2,582,430

GARDEN TRAC'ITQR Filed Feb. 23, 1946 INVENTOR. GLENN A. HEILMAN E4 22pm 412 fm4;

HIS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1952 GARDEN TRACTOR Glenn A. Heilman, Connersville, Ind., assignor to Garden-All Tractor, 1110., Liberty, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application February 23, 1946, Serial No. 649,520

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a utility tractor, and it pertains more particularly to one having a tool supporting frame connected to the implement by a universal joint, vertically adjustable.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an implement which has a tool supporting frame, universally coupled to the tractor base in front of the driving or traction wheel axis, and selectively coupled at its rear end to a member which depends from rearwardly extending guiding handles, to determine the vertical spacing of the tool frame with respect to the said guiding handles for determining the ground depth at which the operator works the tool.

Another object of the invention is in the construction of an implement having a base support with a tool supporting frame which casters around a universal coupling at the front of the base support, to track with the driving wheels when turning.

Another object of the invention is to provide several vertical heights at which the tool frame is universally coupled to the base, and the rear depth control coupling is so designed as to per mit this variation in vertical height without interfering with the caster action of the tool frame.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter, and the invention is typefied by the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described.

For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of an embodiment of the in vention with cultivatin tools attached and in working position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tool support frame and base support to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one of the universal joints coupling the tool frame to the base support, parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of that part of the tool frame structure which couples the tool supporting arms together.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rack and parts for determining the depth of the working tools.

Referring specifically to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts, numeral 2 indicates the supporting and traction driving wheels mounted on two longitudinally aligned but spaced stub axles ,3; ach of which is rotatably supported by one of the two side plates 4 on each side of a base support or body frame 5. The base support or body frame 5 is composed of a pair of spaced-apart side angle irons 5a and a pair of cross angle irons 5b, also spaced-apart. An internal combustion engine 6, supplied with a fuel tank I, is mounted upon the base support or body frame 5.

A pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending guiding and balancing arms 8, with hand grip ends, are rigidly connected at their forward ends to the inside surface of the side plates 4 by any suitablefastening means, such as bolts 9. They are supported at the proper elevation by bracket to fitted to the frame 5. The engine 6 is connected through any conventional clutch and speed reducer to gearing carried by the side plate supported ends of the stub axles 3 for rotation of the traction or driving wheels. Control members It and I extend rearwardly from the engine and clutch for control, respectively, of the engine fuel supply and the clutch.

Disposed forwardly of the stub axles 3 and depending from the base support or body frame structure 5, in parallel spaced-apart relation, are

a pair of plates l2 having formed therein a vertically disposed series of spaced holes [3. Corresponding holes in the two plates are in alignment. These plates l2 are preferably triangular with the top edge of one side aligned with and fastened to the side angle bar and the rear edge vertically disposed. The series of holes are formed along the margin of this vertical edge.

A bolt 4, having a threaded end 5, is fitted in each of a pair of the aligned holes l3 and held therein by a nut H on the threaded end I5 of the bolt but adjusted to permit the bolt to turn or pivot in the hole. The head IS on the opposite end of the bolt has a tubular portion l9 fixed thereto t provide a socket 20 for pivoting the ends of a pair of tool supporting arms 2|, each of which is provided with means for being pivoted to one of these sockets. The pair of tool supporting arms 2| at their forward ends outwardly flared portions 22 carrying pins 23 for fitting into the sockets 2a of tubular portions IS. The pins extend through the sockets and are secured therein by cotter-pins 24. There is a pin 23 on each of the two arms, one for each of the sockets 20.

The two arms 2| have upwardly directed extensions 25 which terminate in the inwardly directed ends 26, which are in transverse alignment. A cross bar 21 is secured to the ends 28 by bolts 28 fitting into certain of the screwthreaded holes 26a. These arms 2|, extensions rack bar. the strips 35 terminates in a twisted. lug M apattached, the lever and cross bar 21 form a tool frame unit universally swingable about the front suspension points at which the unit is connected to the plates l2. The cross bar 2'! is connected to the inturned ends 2e by bolts 28 and permits pivotal movement between the cross bar and the extensions at these connecting points as the tool supporting frame swings laterally about the universal joint connection. Projecting medially upwardly and forwardly of the cross bar 21 is an arcuate rack bar or arm 29 having a series of spaced notches 36 formed along its upper edge.

The guiding and balancing handle arms '8 have strip members attachedthereto provided with one end of each extending'upward-ly and the opposite end extending downwardly. The upwardly extending ends are ,apertured to receive a transverse rod 38. A cross rod 50 extends between the downwardly extending ends and carries adjustable collars 42in spaced relation thereon so as to straddle the rack bar 29 when rod is seated in one of the notches 30 of said rack bar. The collars A2 are axially adjustable on'the rod to be spaced apart for a selected distance from each other and secured in position on the red by any suitable means, such as by setscrews, to control the lateral swing of the tool frame by bearing against the. sides of the The upwardly extended end of one of ertured at 45.

A rod 46 projects through this aperture d5 of the strip 35 and is yieldably connected thereto by a compression spring 41 coiled about the rod on one side of the lug 44. Another compression spring 48 is coiled about the rod on the opposite side of the lug 4d,".the adjacent ends of the springs bearing against the opposite sides of the lug.

The opposite end of spring 4? seats against a collar 49 which is adjustable and can be secured in adjusted position by any suitable means, such as a set screw. The opposite end of spring 68 seats against a knob 50 that is screw vthreadedly connected to the rod 46.

cally.

Any tool, such as cultivating blades Ed, is

-mounted on the rear ends of the arms ii on the tool carrying frame.

When different cultivating depths are desired lever 52 is actuated to release the lock from the rack bar, and, when it is released, the handles are lowered as desired while the tool rests upon the ground. -When the desired elevation adjustment is made, this adjustment being permitted by-the pivot members M to which the arms 2! are 2 is returned to locking posi tion after the rod member 48] is seated in a selected notch 30. The opposed springs i? and d8 yieldingly control strips 35 and secure positive seating and retention of the rod 4% in a notch of the rack bar, despite jarring and vibration incident .to the use of the. implement.

It .will be observed that the .cross bar 21 is substantially in the same horizontal plane as *base support or body frame structure 5, and that the upward ,extensionsiii are spaced apart at 1 somewhat less distance than are plates l2, thereby providing a lateral clearance in alignment with the spacing between the wheel supporting side plate structures and vertical clearance at least as high as that between the ground surface and the base support. The inturned ends 26 and cross bar 2? permit the arms 2| being spaced apart any desired distance.

Obviously the bolts l4, after the tools and arms 2E are detached, can be removed and replaced in any selected pair of aligned holes l3, and this canbedone without affecting the positive locking and release of the cross member 40 in the rack because the ti-ltable portion, arm 35 and the parts attached thereto, can be moved as requiredfth'is movement being permitted by the opposed spring cushion connection of rod 46 to the twisted terminal 44 and the arcuate shape of rack29.

Collars 42 may, if desired, be moved to their outermost positions or any intermediate positions to allow a full or a restricted lateral movement of the tool supporting frame in respect to the base support. Cross member 30, being slidable in whatever notch it is positioned, maintains a selected vertical adjustment of the tool-frame, and said cross member slides in the groove in which it is positioned when the tool frame moves laterally.

While-the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description the structure is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The embodiment described herein can vary widely in details of construction without departing from the spirit of the-invention, and, therefore, I have claimed my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A gardening implement including, in combination, a base; a wheel supporting the base; rearwardly extending guiding and balancing arms; a tool support frame having two side arms each mounted at its forward end by a universal joint to a corresponding side of the base to per rnit vertical and lateral pivoting of the tool support frame relative to the base, said side arms being coupled in spaced lateral relation by a coupling member positioned near their rear ends, whereby the resulting frame may swing laterally and vertically; and means for coupling the rear end of the tool frame to the guiding arms in any one of a plurality of vertically spaced positions, said means comprising .a notched member ex tending upwardly from the side arm coupling member and a horizontally disposed cross member suspended from the guiding arms and engageable with any selected notch in said notched member.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the notched member is substantially'arcuate with respect to the axis of vertical swing of the tool frame.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the tool frame is coupled by the universal joints, at a point in front of the Wheel axis.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which the universal joint couplings of the tool frame to the base may be made at various vertical heights, as selected, said means comprising frame members with a plurality of vertically spaced holes.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which the notched member is substantially arcuate to the axis of vertical swing of, the tool frame at .whatever vertical position such selective coupling is made.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which the cross member may be moved in or out of engagement with any notch in the notched member by operation of a handle which is mounted on the guiding arms.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which the cross member is held resiliently in engagement with the selected notch by reason of springs coupled to the guiding arms.

8. A gardening implement including, in combination, a base; a wheel supporting the base; a pair of rearwardly extending guiding and balancing arms; a tool support frame connected at its forward end to the base by a universal joint which permits the frame to pivot laterally and vertically with respect to the base; sectional means for coupling the rear end of the tool support to the guiding and balancing arms, and attaching means for the sections to provide for vertical adjustment and lateral swinging of the tool support with respect to the handles.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which one of the coupling sections is attached to the arms and the other coupling section is attached to the tool support and the attaching means for the sections is a vertical, adjustable hook on one section engaging a transverse bar on the other section to permit the end of the tool support to swing laterally on said transverse bar.

10. A gardening implement comprising the combination of a base; a pair of wheels rotatable about a common axis and supporting said base; a pair of guiding and balancing arms fixedto and extending rearwardly from said base; a tool support frame; a universal joint connecting the forward end of said frame to said base at a point in front of said axis and below the horizontal plane including said axis; and means, secured to said frame in the rear of said axis, for adjustably connecting said frame to said guiding and balancing arms, whereby the elevation of the rear end of said frame with respect to said arms may be varied.

11. The combination specified in claim 10 in which the means for connecting the frame to said arms include parts with lateral lost motion therebetween to permit lateral swing of the frame with respect to the base about said universal joint.

12. The combination specified in claim 11 in which the means for connecting the frame to said arms'include a notched sector concentric with said universal joint and fixed to said frame.

GLENN A. HE'I'LMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

